Volkswacht Bodensee - Schalke return to Bundesliga after three-year absence

Kenan Karaman's 15th minute goal, his 15th in the league this season, put the seven-time German champions Schalke on track to return after three seasons in the Bundesliga 2.

Schalke now have 67 points, 10 more than third-placed Hannover, who have three matches remaining.

The top two sides in the second division at the end of the season return to the top flight, while the third-placed side takes on the third-last team in the Bundesliga in a two-legged playoff.

Already guaranteed of a top-two spot, Schalke will be crowned second division champions should second-placed Paderborn not win at Elversberg on Sunday.

One of Germany's best supported clubs who were in the Champions League semi-finals as recently as 2010-2011, Schalke have fallen on hard times in recent seasons.

The club were relegated in last place at the end of the 2020-21 season but returned to the top flight immediately as second division champions the season after.

But Schalke were once again relegated at the end of the 2022-23 season. Last season, the club dangled just above the drop zone before finishing 14th.

Another fallen giant, Hamburg, returned to the top flight last season after seven seasons in the Bundesliga 2 and is on track to stay up this season.

T.Suter--VB